Featured Tracks Playlist December 2024

Next up, is Just Stay from my 2022 CD Told Ya.  As I was writing this ballad, I decided that I really wanted a power ballad. So, I start the track off with a simple but pretty melody played using a baby grand sound. I add in my Ibanez Hollow Body guitar to the melody. I am playing my Gibson SG for that killer guitar solo at the end. The horns, drum programing and that killer guitar solo take this ballad and turns it into a power ballad. I love the way that guitar solo sounds soaring over the horns and strings. This song just rocks. Let’s give Just Stay a listen. 

Next up is Run with Me also from my 2020 CD Living in Strange Times. When I started writing this track, I was looking for a cool syncopated track where the guitar and keyboards are in a conversation.  That conversation is happening between my Fender acoustic electric guitar and a Baby Grand piano sound. That killer solo at the end of the track, well believe it or not that solo I played on my Fender acoustic electric guitar. It sounded so good I decided to leave it and not redo using the Stratocaster. On the keyboard side I’m using a Baby Grand sound for the melody and the solo and a Fender Rhodes electric piano sound for the chords. This is such a cool and fun track.  Let’s give Run with Me a listen.    

Next up is, Why Don’t Ya Just Let Us Play from my 2023 CD Life on The Other Side. This track is a fun fusion track, fusing funk, blues and a little rock. When I started working on this track, I fell in love with that bass guitar line and my drum programing. The foundation or sound canvas for this track is the rhythm section, the rhythm guitar, Fender Rhodes chords, bass guitar, staccato horns, and those awesome drums. I used my Gibson SG for the rhythm guitar and melody. For the solo, I used my Fender Stratocaster. I love how the solo sounds at the end of this track, with the horns behind it at the end of this track. Let’s give Why Don’t Ya Just Let Us Play a listen.    

Next up is the title track from my 2022 CD Told Ya. By the way way, my wife Cheryl did name this track, when she heard the opening chords of the song , she just sang out Told Ya. This track has some very cool layers to it. This smooth jazz song has a great groove to it. I’m playing my Ibanez Hollow Body for the rhythm guitar work and the melody on this track. I used my Fender Stratocaster for that killer solo. What really gives this track such a great sound canvas, is the mix of Rhythm guitar, Rhodes piano and those subtle horns and strings. I just love this track Let’s give Told Ya a listen. 

Closing out this month’s playlist is, a very relaxing track named Just Kick Back and Relax from my 2023 CD Life on The Other Side. When I listen to this track, I think I should be driving along the coast or walking along a boardwalk, just humming this sweet little melody. On this one I am playing my Martin acoustic electric for all the guitar work. I am playing the Grand Piano sound for the melody and the Rhodes Electric Piano sound is playing the chords. This track is a feel good and relaxing song.  Let’s give Just Kick Back and Relax a listen.